Chapter 28

|Rose's P.O.V|

I did not recognise the man lying in the white bed before me.

I had to even double check twice, just to be sure that this is the guy I had unconsciously grown to like.

What was once a gorgeous and flawless face, constantly smiling a smile so beautiful that I nearly forget my own name, is now a mess of bruises and bandages.

I choke back a sob as my hand flys to my mouth.

This is all my fault.

My eyes scan over to the heart monitor. I wasn't sure how fast or slow a heart rate is considered to be normal but I'd do anything to be able to feel his heart beating against me wildly, almost like he enjoys being that close to me.

I hesitantly walk over to the bed, not believing that Kyle is in this so called coma. My mind just refused to believe it. I grab his hand gently whilst a tear slips out.

"K-kyle..." I whisper, giving his hand a soft squeeze. But I was greeted with the same silence.

I sniff, taking in a deep breath. "Kyle p-please.... w-wake up." I hiccup as more silent tears begin to flow out freely. I place my head on the bed next to his hand with my hand still attached to his.

"I-I'm so sorry, please....forgive me. I just want you to wake up so, so I can be here for you and...and be your Aphrodite for character day which is in a few days. I want.....I want you to call me Chi chi again whilst you tease and annoy me. I just want you here.....with me...." By now, my eyes were a leaking mess.

I'm the one meant to be in this position , not him. He doesn't deserve this, I do. What if he never wakes up? I won't be able to live with the guilt. And with that thought in mind, more heart wrenching sobs escaped me to the point where it physically and mentally hurt.

"I haven't slept the entire week knowing that there was something wrong with you," I hiccup before continuing, "How could I sleep knowing that...." I wipe my cheeks as I stare at his face.

Even in this beaten up state, he still manages to take my breath away. There was just always something gorgeous about him. Something that, despite how many times I reject and push him away, his presence alone makes my heart flutter.

"Hi, Rose." Laura soft voice greets me from the door.

I stand up, wiping my tear stained face before turning around. There at the door stood Laura, Malcolm, Lewis, my parents and a doctor.

The doctor clears his throat as everyone gathers around the bed. "I assume you all are the closest people to William after his parents?"

Laura nods with a sad smile. I guess my father told her and Lewis the truth about him.

"As you are all aware, William was beaten up pretty badly and he could've died had he not pressed his emergency button placed on his belt, provided by the police in case of an incident such as this. He was severely injured on his head, resulting in something similar to a deep sleep known as a coma. However, no amount of external stimuli such as sounds or sensations can prompt the brain to become awake and alert.

William is in what we call a vegetative state coma which lasts longer than a month. They look like they're sleeping and are sometimes able to move their body. The person can also randomly laugh, cry or pull faces." (True fact)

"How long will he take to wake up then?" My father asks.

"Well like I said, the least amount of time would be about a month. However the longer he is in a coma, the bleaker his chance of making a recovery."

I fist my hands and turn to look away, feeling another round of tears approaching.

This is all my fault..

After a few minutes of silence, everyone got up to leave, however I remained rooted to my spot.

My father stands at the door and sighs. "Rose, honey, we need to get going. You haven't eaten anything an-"

"I'm not leaving him."

"I can stay here with her." Lewis suggests but is ignored by my father.

"Look, you can come back again tomo-"

Frustrated, I stood up and yelled. "I SAID IM NOT LEAVING HIM!"

This left my father speechless as his mouth opens then closes three times. "Don't make me force you, Rose. We are leaving and that is final!"

Lewis walks in and grabs my hand. "Please, Rose, just listen to him." He whispers softly, his eyes pleading me.

I snatch my hand away from his. "Don't make me repeat myself. I said I'm not leaving and that means that I'll stay here till he wakes up or until I rot and die. Whatever comes first..." I sniff, wiping my nose with my jumper, not caring how pathetic or disgusting I looked.

"Right," My dad clenches his jaw. "Have it your way, Rose. But don't expect me to open the gates for you." He storms off leaving me to gasp as I stare wide eyed at my mum.

"He didn't mean it honey, he's just worried about your health since you haven't eaten in days." My mother comes and hugs me before whispering, "Just give me a call when you decide to come back. I'll make sure the nurse knows you're staying."

I nod and hug her back tightly. As she leaves, I turn to look at Lewis who stands there looking nervous and somewhat...guilty?

"What's wrong?" I question, standing right in front of him. He visibly gulps as he avoids eye contact. "Lewis, answer me."

"No, I..I have to go.." He says nervously as he tries to get past me but I grab his collar and push him against the wall.

"You said you'll stay with me!" I whisper harshly, feeling my eyes stinging.

"I know but....."

"But what?" Our faces were merely inches away and his quick glances towards my lips didn't go unnoticed by me.

I thought he said he was only infatuated by me?

Curious, I lean in closer and notice how his breathing was now quicker and how his eyes darkened with lust.

"Lewis....you said you didn't like me that way."

"Well, I lied."

With that said, my breath was knocked out of my lungs as my own back came in contact with the wall all too quickly that it took me a few seconds to realise that his lips were now brushing against mine.

"Stop it, there was something else bothering you just moments before. I want to know!"

It was as if a button had been switched on. He immediately removed his body from mine as he stares at me with concern. "It's not my place to tell you." He whispers, staring at the ground.

"I don't care, I want to know why you're acting like this."

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair, staring out the window over to the far left. Well...his left anyways. "Remember the day we tried to sneak in your dads office to find Kyle's records?"

I nod, remembering how our plan had failed and we got caught.

"I uhm....I had a file in my hand which I wouldn't let you see and you asked me whose file that was."

With my curiously burning brighter at every word he says, hundreds of possibilities of whose file he was holding had me thinking if I really wanted to know what he was so nervous on telling me.

"Whose file was it?"

He runs a hand through his face, groaning. "I really shouldn't be telling you. I could get expelled."

"Lewis." I say firmly, crossing my arms.

He stares at the wall behind me. "It was yours."

I blink, confused. "And?"

"It said that you are...."

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